Kaepernick Reaches Million Dollar Goal for Charity

FILE – In this Dec. 3, 2017, file photo, Colin Kaepernick attends the 2017 ACLU SoCal’s Bill of Rights Dinner at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif. A visit by former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick to New York’s Rikers Island jail facility has drawn a rebuke from the union representing city correction officers. The head of the Correction Officers Benevolent Association tells the Daily News that Kaepernick’s presence at Rikers on Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2017, will encourage inmates to attack jail guards. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, File)

When Colin Kaepernick began taking a knee during the National Anthem to protest systematic racism and police brutality, a lot of critics said he was all talk and no action. Over the last year and a half Kaepernick has donated his time, money and energy to a number of philanthropic causes. On Wednesday, the former Super Bowl quarterback announced that he had fulfilled his pledge of donating $1 million of his salary to under served communities.

He started his million dollar pledge in September of 2016, a month after he began his protesting. Kaepernick opted out of his deal with San Francisco in March. Since then, he hasn’t had any opportunities to join an NFL roster leading many fans to speculate that the quarterback is being blackballed. Kaepernick finished off his pledge by asking a number of high-profile athletes and entertainers to donate $10,000 to a charity of their choice, which he promised to match dollar-for-dollar in what he called the #10for10 challenge.

Platinum-selling artist Usher pledged $10,000 to Helping Oppressed Mothers Endure Inc., or H.O.M.E., a Georgia-based advocacy organization for single mothers going through divorce or domestic violence. Jesse Williams, Nick Cannon and Steph Curry are among some of the other celebrities who joined Kaepernick in the #10for10 challenge.

My brother @kaepernick7 and I donated $20k to H.O.M.E which stands for Helping Oppressed Mothers Endure in Lithonia, GA. Their mission is to extend love to the home, restore hope in the heart, and offer help through healing hands to single mothers facing hardship. #10For10pic.twitter.com/Swbw3ySLKW